Egypt

Egypt is straight up crazy. That really is the only word I can use to describe it. The people, the history, the tombs and mummies, the pyramids, the animals, the driving, the markets ... crazy. But so great.

We spent half our time Cairo and the other in Luxor. We had a Muslim tour guide for a week who we called "Brother Toot." He named our group "Tut," after King Tutankhamen but his thick Egyptian accent made it sound like he was saying, "Toot" every time he called for us to meet back at the bus after wandering around a certain site or whatnot. Call me immature but whenever he squealed, "Toot! Hurry up you lazy toots," I couldn't help but giggle like a little schoolgirl. Honestly he was one of my favorite parts of the trip. He was hilarious, knew the sites so well, and even stood up for us when a security guard tried canceling a minor dance party we started in front of the Funerary Temple of Hatshepsut. (pict below is us prepping to get our groove on)

But perhaps what influenced me most after interacting with him was getting one step closer to understanding not just the Arab culture and Islamic religion but other peoples as well. The more you learn about one kin the better you can understand another. Hearing him explain his specific ways of worship really impressed me. I am so intrigued as I learn about different faiths how similar we all are. Such minute differences in religion yet so much tension from one neighborhood to the next. And it is as simple as that. For the most part, East Jerusalem = Muslim Palestinian Arabs. West Jerusalem = Jewish Israelis. And somewhere in the middle are Christians and the "Mormon University." There have only been a couple of riots since I have been here- nothing worrisome but noteworthy nonetheless. I am so grateful for the security at the Center. I honestly have never felt so safe in my life because they take such good care of us here.

But anyway, Eleven Egypt Essentials...

1. The Great Giza Pyramids. 'Nough said.

2. Frolicking in Sand Dunes near Kibbutz Keturah. A kibbutz is a Jewish community where they basically live a modern version of the law of consecration. Again- crazy! We had a devotional/testimony meeting where, not gonna lie, I kinda felt like I was at girls camp but I actually really enjoyed it. Before coming to Jerusalem Didi wrote me a letter and in it explained how, "Revelation comes freely in Jerusalem" and I experienced such personal revelation come to me as I found a barren spot away from the group and had time to just be under the stars amidst the dust and warm breeze. It is moments like this, where I am at peace with nature that I feel my Savior the most. These subtle confirmations reassure me that my decision to have used the Mike Weiler tuition scholarship toward Outdoor Recreation was right for me. Thank you Dad!

3. Hiking Mount Sinai at 3 am. Again, thank you to Papa Wein for introducing me at a young age to value a good hike. Watching the sun rise over the completely deserted cliffs and valleys was humbling to say the least.

4. Transportation. We bussed, cameled, overnight trained, falukahed, motor boated, taxied, airplained, walked, and carriaged. Drivers pay no attention to lanes in the road. Everyone criss- crosses in all directions across the road. Crazy!

5. The Muhammad Ali Mosque and, as I mentioned earlier, hearing Brother Toot expound upon the five pillars of Islam in his life.

6. Karnak Temple. I felt like Luigi put-puttin' around on a motor car chasing Mario through all the crevices of rock and columns and ramps and obliques and arches. It was like a human maze with no beginning or end. Loved it.

7. Waking up to dozens of hot air balloons floating over the Nile. Yep, riding naked in one of these is still on the list.

8. Hieroglyphs everywhere. It's funny how exciting finding a few insignificant scratches in southern Utah left from seemingly influential ancestors is...and then entering the Valley of the Kings where beautifully painted figures and symbols fill entire mountain sides.

9. Just wanted to throw this one in there. I got tired of taking and posing for pictures in front of the same things every five seconds. Eventually we resorted to snapping random shots with Asian tourists unbeknown to them.

10. Market shopping slash walking anywhere in the city. The men on the Egyptian streets loooooove American women and their money…way more than the merchants in Israel. I seriously felt like I was a famous actress promenading down the red carpet because I couldn’t walk two feet without someone jumping in my way saying, “No hassle, beautiful woman, crazy eyes! Ahhh, come, come, no charge for looking! How many cattle for you? Be my habibe? (Arabic for "my love") Ooooh, Shakira!” I was genuinely exhausted after refusing hundreds of sellers through the cramped, hookah infested corridors of the Luxor bazaar. Trust me, this vid is worth watching. This sketch carriage driver was in love with Katie and even gave her a smooch on the cheek while she just happened to be video recording.

11. Mummies of the great Kings at the Egyptian Museum. We weren't allowed to bring cameras in the museum so alas I have no visuals but I'll try to paint you a picture. Think shrunken, raisiny, charcoaled fragile toothpick thin bones for the body and muddy brown stained teeth with distorted facial features topped with Raggedy Ann hair.

Crazy!